Sunday, November 06, 2005
Blue Hearts 6.11.6.05
Hey all,
Hope your Halloween went well and you've gotten rid of all your candy! If not, Hope House can always use high-calorie snacks for their AIDS patients. Please bring them to our next meeting and I'd be happy to take them there, I promise. : )
FYI, our next Blue Hearts meeting is Nov. 17, 8:30 AM at Indian Hills Country Club. Please RSVP to me. Michelle Lahr of Heartland Democrats will meet with us and tell us about a lot of the important things going on around town. I'll send you an agenda as we approach the date.
I had an opportunity to meet with Joy Zimmerman of True Blue Women. It was great to get together and find out what their group is doing. They have about 250 members, a 14-person steering committee, a book club, and a letter-writing group. We thought it makes a lot of sense to join with them on some things such as their book club and letter writing group.
We will be sharing information so they'll be able to join us on any opportunities we may have in the future. If you'd like to find out more about their group, they're at www.truebluewomen.org
Thanks,
Kristin
HUMOR:
Subject: Surgeon's Contest
Three surgeons are having lunch and one of them said, "I'm the best surgeon in Texas. A concert pianist lost seven fingers in
an accident, I reattached them, and eight months later he performed a private concert for the Queen of England."
One of the others said. "That's nothing. A young man lost both arms and legs in an accident, I reattached them, and 2 years later he won a gold medal in the Olympics.
The third surgeon said, "You guys are amateurs. Several years ago a cowboy who was high on cocaine and alcohol rode a horse head-on into a train traveling 80 miles an hour.? All I had left to work with was the horse's ass and a cowboy hat. Now he's president of the United States."
------------------------
http://www.thefrown.com/frowners/becomerepublican.swf
-------------------------
http://www.redblueproject.org/commercials.php
-------------------------
http://www.arnoldsneighborhood.com/
SERIOUS STUFF:
From a concerned citizen.
I am sure you have heard the reports from the White House about the likely "bird flu pandemic."
It had seemed to me that the only reason to push this new irrational fear onto the American public was to distract all of us from debacles like Iraq and "Plame-gate." As it turns out, there is another reason.
Try this: Google any combination of "bird flu," "Rumsfeld," and "Gilead." You will learn that the company that invented "Tamilflu" (also spelled Tamiflu in some reports), the supposed antidote to the human form of bird flu, is Gilead Science. Before becoming Sec. of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld was the C.E.O. of Gilead Science, and he has a very large number of shares in the company. Gilead has outsourced the marketing of Tamilflu to a Swiss company, but Gilead stock has risen
sharply in the last few weeks.
To top it all off, there is no reason to suspect that Tamilflu will be effective, even at the $100-per-dose cost. (1.) There is some suspicion that the clinical tests of Tamilflu were inadequate, and (2.) no one knows exactly how the "bird flu" virus might mutate to a human flu, so no one knows what antidote formula would be effective.
What is known for certain is that when the U.S. government orders $2 billion of Tamilflu, as it did a few days ago, a chunk of that money benefits Donald Rumsfeld.
-----------------------------
In recognition of the death toll for American troops in Iraq now being OVER 2000, below is the best bumper sticker my friend, Mary, has seen (pick-up truck at Loose Park on a Sunday morning):
"We are making enemies faster than we can kill them."
-------------------------------------
This is about the Iraq war. Very sad.
http://theunitedamerican.blogs.com/Movies/2000A/2000.html
-----------------------------
Letter from Planned Parenthood - I think this is a great way for us to do some letter writing. K
If you contacted Target about its policy, you may have received a response like this:
"Like many other retailers, Target has a policy that ensures a guest's prescription for emergency contraception is filled, whether at Target or at a different pharmacy, in a timely and respectful manner. This policy meets the health care needs of our guests while respecting the diversity of our team members."
In the last week, Target has changed its response, removing "or at a different pharmacy," from its standard reply. But, although it has taken that phrase out of the letter, as far as we can tell Target has not actually changed its policy. Currently, if a Target pharmacist refuses to fill your prescription, Target thinks it's all right to make women travel to another pharmacy to get their pills.
Sorry, Target, but this just isn't good enough. Planned Parenthood insists that pharmacies guarantee prescriptions will be filled in-store, without discrimination or delay.
We suggest Target take a look at the great policies of some of its competitors if it really cares about meeting the needs of its guests.
Alas! We finally know the truth about Target, and it's not good.
Target does not support a policy to have valid prescriptions for birth control, including emergency contraception, filled in-store without discrimination or delay!
We cannot stand for this.
It's time to make sure Target hears from consumers, loud and clear.
Tell Target to fill our pills — now.
OUR PLAN
Planned Parenthood executives have sent three letters to Target in an attempt to let it clarify its position. To date, it has also received more than 60,000 letters from Planned Parenthood supporters. But it's time to turn up the heat.
Planned Parenthood is in direct communication with Target executives about their inadequate policy, in an effort to help Target become a pro-women's health pharmacy.
We are in contact with the woman whose prescription was refused at the Target in Missouri and we are encouraging her to report the incident to the Missouri Board of Pharmacy.
We will continue to mobilize more than 1.5 million supporters from coast to coast to demand that women receive their pills at pharmacies across the country.
We will continue to publicize our progress on our FillMyPillsNow.org Web site, on our blog, and in the media.
But most importantly, we need you to let big pharmacy chains like Target know we're not going to accept their anti-women's health policies.
Contact Target today.
Karen Pearl
Interim President
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
On behalf of the Planned Parenthood community
---------------------------------------
ACTION OPPORTUNITIES:
(For this first item, if anyone wants to sign up for one of these parties, please let me know and we can invite the group, if you'd like. Kristin)
Sent : Monday, November 7, 2005 5:49 PM
Subject : Your neighborhood Democratic organization
In New Jersey, Virginia, New York and around the country, voters will go to the polls tomorrow to elect state and local officials. Our organization is in full gear and ready to turn out the vote around the country. But we must remember that tomorrow isn't an ending. You mandated a party that doesn't stop building after Election Day and next week will be proof that it's no longer business as usual for Democrats.
On November 15th our 50-state strategy will become a reality in your neighborhood when you host an Organizing Kickoff Meeting -- the first step of building our party's ground operation in every neighborhood in America.
There's still time for you host a meeting in your community. Hosts will receive an agenda and all the materials needed for a successful organizing meeting, and Governor Dean will be joining all of the meetings in a nationwide conference call that night.
Sign up to host now:
http://www.democrats.org/events/create
If you're not able to host, you can search for organizing meetings in your area where you will be able to connect with other Democrats committed to building a permanent Democratic presence on the ground in every state, county, and precinct.
Find an Organizing Kickoff meeting near you:
http://www.democrats.org/nov15events
You and I both know we can't afford to wait until the last few months before an election to build our party, and we certainly can't expect that others will build the necessary organization for us. We all have to take responsibility for this party -- and you can take control on November 15th.
Thank you for all that you do.
Tom McMahon
Executive Director
Democratic National Committee
Paid for and authorized by the Democratic National Committee, www.democrats.org. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.
--------------------------------------
LOCAL ITEMS AND ACTION OPPORTUNITIES:
THE HEARTLAND DEMOCRATS OF AMERICA
(www.heartlanddemocrats.org)
and
THE JACKSON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE
are pleased to present
An Evening with George Lakoff, PhD
author of
Don’t Think of an Elephant: Know Your Values and Frame the Debate
Also invited to speak: statewide & local electeds and ’06 candidates
When: November 12th, 7:30pm
Where: The Uptown Theater, Valentine Room
Cost: $35 ($25 HDA Members, also invited to stay for book signing after event!)
Patron’s Party: Private Reception with Dr. Lakoff
When: November 12th, 5:30pm
Where: The Uptown Theater, Cabaret Room
Cost: $100 (Includes autographed book and photo with the author; Complimentary hors d'oeuvres, wine & beer)
SPONSORSHIPS ALSO AVAILABLE
for more information on tickets or sponsorships, contact Michele Lahr mlahr@meridianstrat.com or 816.931.1005
------------------------
WALMART DOCUMENTARY
Many of you have already heard of this. For those of you interested in going to see this here are two chances.
WHAT: Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price
WHEN: November 15, 2005 07:00 PM
PRICE: FREE
DETAILS: Tuesday night at the movies series premiers Robert Greenwald's latest documentary.
WHERE: All Souls' Unitarian Universalist Church, 4501 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO
1 block east of Main Street Two blocks north of the Plaza Across street from Kemper Museum and KC Art Institute
PS You have to RSVP on the website (walmartmovie.com) if you plan on attending. There is only seating for 250.
OR
The GLENWOOD ARTS movie theater is playing the Walmart documentary on Nov. 14, Monday, at 7:30 PM.
-----------------------------------------
Stuff from Phil LeVota, Chairman, Jackson County Democratic Committee www.jacksoncountydemocrats.org
Even though we are the minority party in Missouri, we have an outstanding group of party leadership in Jefferson City working toward improving state government. In an effort to assist all of us in communication and coordination, the party leaders have produced a newsletter about legislative issues. I have attached the newsletter to this e-mail. Also, here is the forward to the newsletter:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Friend,
Enclosed is the first copy of the Missouri House Democratic Caucus Newsletter. As a caucus, we want to keep you informed of our work to move Missouri forward. We hope you enjoy this issue.
Please feel free to forward this e-mail to any one in Missouri that could benefit from this newsletter. We would appreciate any feedback you might have regarding this effort to keep you informed. Look for another issue next month.
On behalf of the Missouri House Democratic Caucus, thank you for your on-going support. We ask that you continue to help us by sharing your ideas and suggestions on how to move Missouri forward. Please contact us if we can assist you in any way.
Sincerely,
Paul LeVota
Assistant Minority Leader
Missouri State Representative - District 52
(573) 751-9759 / paul.levota@house.mo.gov
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Check out the new Jackson County Democratic Party's website at www.jacksoncountydemocrats.org! The new and improved website has news, links, and the coordinated calendar for all local democratic events. If you have any news you would like to add to the website or an event you would like added to the coordinated calendar, please e-mail us at plevota@yahoo.com. Thanks to the Lazarus Group for the design and hosting of the site.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
I recently told you about the students at Raytown High School creating the Raytown Young Democrats. Well, you tell me if Democrats are gaining ground? The students at Blue Springs High School are starting a young democrats club and I also recently spoke with the UMKC Young Democrats who are very active on campus. We have talked about it forever that we needed young blood in this party and here it comes. These young men and women are excited, enthusiastic and energized. I hope to add their websites to the County website link page, so make sure you are including them in any opportunities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Add these to events to your calendar:
November 12, 2005: The Greater Kansas City Women's Political Caucus Endowment & Education Fund & MAINStream Coalition are sponsoring Campaign School 2005 at Penn Valley Community College. Workshop topics include: Raising Money: Where to Find it & How to Ask for it, Issues Campaign Plan & Messaging, Campaign Plan & Budget and Grassroots Voter Contact among others. Cost for the Campaign School 2005 are WPC & MAINStream Member: $50.00, Non-members: $65.00, and Students: $35.00. Cocktail Party with Elected Officials Immediately Following Training
RSVP to tmorris@gkcwpc.org or call 816-531-9595 for more info. Information attached.
November 16, 2005: Fundraiser for Claire McCaskill at the Levee at 43rd and Main in Kansas City at 5:30. More details to come.
December 8, 2005: The KC Pride Democratic Club will celebrate this year's accomplishments at their annual End of the Year Social and Meeting on December 8th at the Broadway Church at 7:00 p.m. This year's recipient of the Roger A. Gooden Award will also be announced. For information contact: admin@kcpridedemocrats.com.
December 2005. Get ready to celebrate the season in a Democratic way at "A Happy Holidays Democratic Party." We always get together for fund raisers or other events, so how about just a social get-together to celebrate the holiday season? Volunteers and ideas are needed to start working on this event. The Democratic Party is hopeful that all democratic elected officials, candidates, and all democratic groups will support this event by sponsoring, advertising, and attending. E-mail Phil LeVota at plevota@yahoo.com with questions or to volunteer!.
-----------------------------------------
There's the news. Here's the rant!
Scooter Libby indictment, War in Iraq, Incompetent response to Katrina, Low poll numbers for Bush and Blunt, Doing away with prevailing wage in the devastated south...........excellent examples of why republicans do not deserve the right to govern, right? I know we are all excited about the light of truth being illuminated on the republican party's real agenda, but let's make sure we take advantage of this opportunity with response that scores points with voters. Remember, it is not enough for us to just wag our finger and list the republican blunders. Our party must express to voters why Democrats can govern better. Let's not just be against the republican ineptness and corruption. Let's be for Democratic values and programs.
Our party will be working hard in the next few months to get out consistent messages about why someone should vote for Democratic candidates. The Party will be coming up with a legislative agenda to give you to be able to talk to people about why it is better to vote Democratic. The Party will provide you with real examples of programs that express Democratic values and not just lip service. And if you have any ideas, please pass on your ideas on "talking points" for voters.
We learned last year the valuable lesson of how framing messages is important. The republicans have set the stage for us and left a bad taste in the majority of voters. Let's not waste the opportunity by just "being against republicans." Let's take advantage of their problems and add to it by telling the people of Missouri and the country why we can do it better and what we "stand for!" Keep up the good work!
Phil LeVota
Chairman
Jackson County Democratic Committee
Visit our website: www.jacksoncountydemocrats.org
--------------------------------
Subject: KS Dem Party needs your help--write a letter to the editor today about theAttorney General's race
Date: October 26, 2005 7:16:19 PM CDT
A way to help Paul Morrison
Hello,
Yesterday, Democrat Paul Morrison announced his candidacy for Attorney General.
We need your help pushing back against radical attacks from Phill Kline's office against our candidates. Please take a few moments to write a letter to the editor of your local paper today about Morrison.
Contact information for newspapers across the state by county can be found on our web site: http://www.ksdp.org/?q=node/view/952
Newspapers generally require that you keep your letter short (about 2 paragraphs) and include your name, address and phone number. If you would like more information or sample letters, please reply to this email.
I am including some points about Morrison that you can use in your letters at the end of this email. Please forward me any letters you send in so we can keep track of our progress. Also, please feel free to forward this information on to anyone you think would be interested in writing a letter of their own.
We appreciate your help in this important rapid response effort!
Thank you,
Frances Gorman
Kansas Democratic Party
www.ksdp.org
fgorman@ksdp.org
-------------------
Letters to the Editor about Paul Morrison:
- Kansans deserve an experienced lawman and practicing attorney as their Attorney General, not a career politician who let their law licenselapse-twice.
- Paul Morrison will provide an independent and no-nonsense approach to keeping our families safe and secure.
- Lately, the Attorney General's office has become a political hotbed in pursuit of its own agenda, not the common good for all Kansans.
- Paul Morrison's 25 year career and record speaks for itself
- Morrison has personally tried over 100 jury cases including the murder trials of serial killers Richard Grissom and John E. Robinson.
- Morrison has been respected District Attorney for one of the largest counties in our state since 1982, where he has made a name for himself cracking down on narcotics, combating juvenile crime, fighting domestic violence and protecting consumers from fraudulent schemes.
- Beyond the DA's office, Morrison has worked to keep Kansas families safe and secure by helping the legislature write the first laws against sexual predators and Kansas' death penalty statute, and has argued numerous cases before the Kansas Supreme Court.
- Paul Morrison has the integrity, independence and lifelong commitment to keeping Kansas safe that we need in the Attorney General's office.
- Kansans will realize that a stronger, more effective Attorney General with a lifetime of experience in law enforcement will serve them better than the one we have today.
Hope your Halloween went well and you've gotten rid of all your candy! If not, Hope House can always use high-calorie snacks for their AIDS patients. Please bring them to our next meeting and I'd be happy to take them there, I promise. : )
FYI, our next Blue Hearts meeting is Nov. 17, 8:30 AM at Indian Hills Country Club. Please RSVP to me. Michelle Lahr of Heartland Democrats will meet with us and tell us about a lot of the important things going on around town. I'll send you an agenda as we approach the date.
I had an opportunity to meet with Joy Zimmerman of True Blue Women. It was great to get together and find out what their group is doing. They have about 250 members, a 14-person steering committee, a book club, and a letter-writing group. We thought it makes a lot of sense to join with them on some things such as their book club and letter writing group.
We will be sharing information so they'll be able to join us on any opportunities we may have in the future. If you'd like to find out more about their group, they're at www.truebluewomen.org
Thanks,
Kristin
HUMOR:
Subject: Surgeon's Contest
Three surgeons are having lunch and one of them said, "I'm the best surgeon in Texas. A concert pianist lost seven fingers in
an accident, I reattached them, and eight months later he performed a private concert for the Queen of England."
One of the others said. "That's nothing. A young man lost both arms and legs in an accident, I reattached them, and 2 years later he won a gold medal in the Olympics.
The third surgeon said, "You guys are amateurs. Several years ago a cowboy who was high on cocaine and alcohol rode a horse head-on into a train traveling 80 miles an hour.? All I had left to work with was the horse's ass and a cowboy hat. Now he's president of the United States."
------------------------
http://www.thefrown.com/frowners/becomerepublican.swf
-------------------------
http://www.redblueproject.org/commercials.php
-------------------------
http://www.arnoldsneighborhood.com/
SERIOUS STUFF:
From a concerned citizen.
I am sure you have heard the reports from the White House about the likely "bird flu pandemic."
It had seemed to me that the only reason to push this new irrational fear onto the American public was to distract all of us from debacles like Iraq and "Plame-gate." As it turns out, there is another reason.
Try this: Google any combination of "bird flu," "Rumsfeld," and "Gilead." You will learn that the company that invented "Tamilflu" (also spelled Tamiflu in some reports), the supposed antidote to the human form of bird flu, is Gilead Science. Before becoming Sec. of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld was the C.E.O. of Gilead Science, and he has a very large number of shares in the company. Gilead has outsourced the marketing of Tamilflu to a Swiss company, but Gilead stock has risen
sharply in the last few weeks.
To top it all off, there is no reason to suspect that Tamilflu will be effective, even at the $100-per-dose cost. (1.) There is some suspicion that the clinical tests of Tamilflu were inadequate, and (2.) no one knows exactly how the "bird flu" virus might mutate to a human flu, so no one knows what antidote formula would be effective.
What is known for certain is that when the U.S. government orders $2 billion of Tamilflu, as it did a few days ago, a chunk of that money benefits Donald Rumsfeld.
-----------------------------
In recognition of the death toll for American troops in Iraq now being OVER 2000, below is the best bumper sticker my friend, Mary, has seen (pick-up truck at Loose Park on a Sunday morning):
"We are making enemies faster than we can kill them."
-------------------------------------
This is about the Iraq war. Very sad.
http://theunitedamerican.blogs.com/Movies/2000A/2000.html
-----------------------------
Letter from Planned Parenthood - I think this is a great way for us to do some letter writing. K
If you contacted Target about its policy, you may have received a response like this:
"Like many other retailers, Target has a policy that ensures a guest's prescription for emergency contraception is filled, whether at Target or at a different pharmacy, in a timely and respectful manner. This policy meets the health care needs of our guests while respecting the diversity of our team members."
In the last week, Target has changed its response, removing "or at a different pharmacy," from its standard reply. But, although it has taken that phrase out of the letter, as far as we can tell Target has not actually changed its policy. Currently, if a Target pharmacist refuses to fill your prescription, Target thinks it's all right to make women travel to another pharmacy to get their pills.
Sorry, Target, but this just isn't good enough. Planned Parenthood insists that pharmacies guarantee prescriptions will be filled in-store, without discrimination or delay.
We suggest Target take a look at the great policies of some of its competitors if it really cares about meeting the needs of its guests.
Alas! We finally know the truth about Target, and it's not good.
Target does not support a policy to have valid prescriptions for birth control, including emergency contraception, filled in-store without discrimination or delay!
We cannot stand for this.
It's time to make sure Target hears from consumers, loud and clear.
Tell Target to fill our pills — now.
OUR PLAN
Planned Parenthood executives have sent three letters to Target in an attempt to let it clarify its position. To date, it has also received more than 60,000 letters from Planned Parenthood supporters. But it's time to turn up the heat.
Planned Parenthood is in direct communication with Target executives about their inadequate policy, in an effort to help Target become a pro-women's health pharmacy.
We are in contact with the woman whose prescription was refused at the Target in Missouri and we are encouraging her to report the incident to the Missouri Board of Pharmacy.
We will continue to mobilize more than 1.5 million supporters from coast to coast to demand that women receive their pills at pharmacies across the country.
We will continue to publicize our progress on our FillMyPillsNow.org Web site, on our blog, and in the media.
But most importantly, we need you to let big pharmacy chains like Target know we're not going to accept their anti-women's health policies.
Contact Target today.
Karen Pearl
Interim President
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
On behalf of the Planned Parenthood community
---------------------------------------
ACTION OPPORTUNITIES:
(For this first item, if anyone wants to sign up for one of these parties, please let me know and we can invite the group, if you'd like. Kristin)
Sent : Monday, November 7, 2005 5:49 PM
Subject : Your neighborhood Democratic organization
In New Jersey, Virginia, New York and around the country, voters will go to the polls tomorrow to elect state and local officials. Our organization is in full gear and ready to turn out the vote around the country. But we must remember that tomorrow isn't an ending. You mandated a party that doesn't stop building after Election Day and next week will be proof that it's no longer business as usual for Democrats.
On November 15th our 50-state strategy will become a reality in your neighborhood when you host an Organizing Kickoff Meeting -- the first step of building our party's ground operation in every neighborhood in America.
There's still time for you host a meeting in your community. Hosts will receive an agenda and all the materials needed for a successful organizing meeting, and Governor Dean will be joining all of the meetings in a nationwide conference call that night.
Sign up to host now:
http://www.democrats.org/events/create
If you're not able to host, you can search for organizing meetings in your area where you will be able to connect with other Democrats committed to building a permanent Democratic presence on the ground in every state, county, and precinct.
Find an Organizing Kickoff meeting near you:
http://www.democrats.org/nov15events
You and I both know we can't afford to wait until the last few months before an election to build our party, and we certainly can't expect that others will build the necessary organization for us. We all have to take responsibility for this party -- and you can take control on November 15th.
Thank you for all that you do.
Tom McMahon
Executive Director
Democratic National Committee
Paid for and authorized by the Democratic National Committee, www.democrats.org. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.
--------------------------------------
LOCAL ITEMS AND ACTION OPPORTUNITIES:
THE HEARTLAND DEMOCRATS OF AMERICA
(www.heartlanddemocrats.org)
and
THE JACKSON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE
are pleased to present
An Evening with George Lakoff, PhD
author of
Don’t Think of an Elephant: Know Your Values and Frame the Debate
Also invited to speak: statewide & local electeds and ’06 candidates
When: November 12th, 7:30pm
Where: The Uptown Theater, Valentine Room
Cost: $35 ($25 HDA Members, also invited to stay for book signing after event!)
Patron’s Party: Private Reception with Dr. Lakoff
When: November 12th, 5:30pm
Where: The Uptown Theater, Cabaret Room
Cost: $100 (Includes autographed book and photo with the author; Complimentary hors d'oeuvres, wine & beer)
SPONSORSHIPS ALSO AVAILABLE
for more information on tickets or sponsorships, contact Michele Lahr mlahr@meridianstrat.com or 816.931.1005
------------------------
WALMART DOCUMENTARY
Many of you have already heard of this. For those of you interested in going to see this here are two chances.
WHAT: Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price
WHEN: November 15, 2005 07:00 PM
PRICE: FREE
DETAILS: Tuesday night at the movies series premiers Robert Greenwald's latest documentary.
WHERE: All Souls' Unitarian Universalist Church, 4501 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO
1 block east of Main Street Two blocks north of the Plaza Across street from Kemper Museum and KC Art Institute
PS You have to RSVP on the website (walmartmovie.com) if you plan on attending. There is only seating for 250.
OR
The GLENWOOD ARTS movie theater is playing the Walmart documentary on Nov. 14, Monday, at 7:30 PM.
-----------------------------------------
Stuff from Phil LeVota, Chairman, Jackson County Democratic Committee www.jacksoncountydemocrats.org
Even though we are the minority party in Missouri, we have an outstanding group of party leadership in Jefferson City working toward improving state government. In an effort to assist all of us in communication and coordination, the party leaders have produced a newsletter about legislative issues. I have attached the newsletter to this e-mail. Also, here is the forward to the newsletter:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Friend,
Enclosed is the first copy of the Missouri House Democratic Caucus Newsletter. As a caucus, we want to keep you informed of our work to move Missouri forward. We hope you enjoy this issue.
Please feel free to forward this e-mail to any one in Missouri that could benefit from this newsletter. We would appreciate any feedback you might have regarding this effort to keep you informed. Look for another issue next month.
On behalf of the Missouri House Democratic Caucus, thank you for your on-going support. We ask that you continue to help us by sharing your ideas and suggestions on how to move Missouri forward. Please contact us if we can assist you in any way.
Sincerely,
Paul LeVota
Assistant Minority Leader
Missouri State Representative - District 52
(573) 751-9759 / paul.levota@house.mo.gov
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Check out the new Jackson County Democratic Party's website at www.jacksoncountydemocrats.org! The new and improved website has news, links, and the coordinated calendar for all local democratic events. If you have any news you would like to add to the website or an event you would like added to the coordinated calendar, please e-mail us at plevota@yahoo.com. Thanks to the Lazarus Group for the design and hosting of the site.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
I recently told you about the students at Raytown High School creating the Raytown Young Democrats. Well, you tell me if Democrats are gaining ground? The students at Blue Springs High School are starting a young democrats club and I also recently spoke with the UMKC Young Democrats who are very active on campus. We have talked about it forever that we needed young blood in this party and here it comes. These young men and women are excited, enthusiastic and energized. I hope to add their websites to the County website link page, so make sure you are including them in any opportunities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Add these to events to your calendar:
November 12, 2005: The Greater Kansas City Women's Political Caucus Endowment & Education Fund & MAINStream Coalition are sponsoring Campaign School 2005 at Penn Valley Community College. Workshop topics include: Raising Money: Where to Find it & How to Ask for it, Issues Campaign Plan & Messaging, Campaign Plan & Budget and Grassroots Voter Contact among others. Cost for the Campaign School 2005 are WPC & MAINStream Member: $50.00, Non-members: $65.00, and Students: $35.00. Cocktail Party with Elected Officials Immediately Following Training
RSVP to tmorris@gkcwpc.org or call 816-531-9595 for more info. Information attached.
November 16, 2005: Fundraiser for Claire McCaskill at the Levee at 43rd and Main in Kansas City at 5:30. More details to come.
December 8, 2005: The KC Pride Democratic Club will celebrate this year's accomplishments at their annual End of the Year Social and Meeting on December 8th at the Broadway Church at 7:00 p.m. This year's recipient of the Roger A. Gooden Award will also be announced. For information contact: admin@kcpridedemocrats.com.
December 2005. Get ready to celebrate the season in a Democratic way at "A Happy Holidays Democratic Party." We always get together for fund raisers or other events, so how about just a social get-together to celebrate the holiday season? Volunteers and ideas are needed to start working on this event. The Democratic Party is hopeful that all democratic elected officials, candidates, and all democratic groups will support this event by sponsoring, advertising, and attending. E-mail Phil LeVota at plevota@yahoo.com with questions or to volunteer!.
-----------------------------------------
There's the news. Here's the rant!
Scooter Libby indictment, War in Iraq, Incompetent response to Katrina, Low poll numbers for Bush and Blunt, Doing away with prevailing wage in the devastated south...........excellent examples of why republicans do not deserve the right to govern, right? I know we are all excited about the light of truth being illuminated on the republican party's real agenda, but let's make sure we take advantage of this opportunity with response that scores points with voters. Remember, it is not enough for us to just wag our finger and list the republican blunders. Our party must express to voters why Democrats can govern better. Let's not just be against the republican ineptness and corruption. Let's be for Democratic values and programs.
Our party will be working hard in the next few months to get out consistent messages about why someone should vote for Democratic candidates. The Party will be coming up with a legislative agenda to give you to be able to talk to people about why it is better to vote Democratic. The Party will provide you with real examples of programs that express Democratic values and not just lip service. And if you have any ideas, please pass on your ideas on "talking points" for voters.
We learned last year the valuable lesson of how framing messages is important. The republicans have set the stage for us and left a bad taste in the majority of voters. Let's not waste the opportunity by just "being against republicans." Let's take advantage of their problems and add to it by telling the people of Missouri and the country why we can do it better and what we "stand for!" Keep up the good work!
Phil LeVota
Chairman
Jackson County Democratic Committee
Visit our website: www.jacksoncountydemocrats.org
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Subject: KS Dem Party needs your help--write a letter to the editor today about theAttorney General's race
Date: October 26, 2005 7:16:19 PM CDT
A way to help Paul Morrison
Hello,
Yesterday, Democrat Paul Morrison announced his candidacy for Attorney General.
We need your help pushing back against radical attacks from Phill Kline's office against our candidates. Please take a few moments to write a letter to the editor of your local paper today about Morrison.
Contact information for newspapers across the state by county can be found on our web site: http://www.ksdp.org/?q=node/view/952
Newspapers generally require that you keep your letter short (about 2 paragraphs) and include your name, address and phone number. If you would like more information or sample letters, please reply to this email.
I am including some points about Morrison that you can use in your letters at the end of this email. Please forward me any letters you send in so we can keep track of our progress. Also, please feel free to forward this information on to anyone you think would be interested in writing a letter of their own.
We appreciate your help in this important rapid response effort!
Thank you,
Frances Gorman
Kansas Democratic Party
www.ksdp.org
fgorman@ksdp.org
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Letters to the Editor about Paul Morrison:
- Kansans deserve an experienced lawman and practicing attorney as their Attorney General, not a career politician who let their law licenselapse-twice.
- Paul Morrison will provide an independent and no-nonsense approach to keeping our families safe and secure.
- Lately, the Attorney General's office has become a political hotbed in pursuit of its own agenda, not the common good for all Kansans.
- Paul Morrison's 25 year career and record speaks for itself
- Morrison has personally tried over 100 jury cases including the murder trials of serial killers Richard Grissom and John E. Robinson.
- Morrison has been respected District Attorney for one of the largest counties in our state since 1982, where he has made a name for himself cracking down on narcotics, combating juvenile crime, fighting domestic violence and protecting consumers from fraudulent schemes.
- Beyond the DA's office, Morrison has worked to keep Kansas families safe and secure by helping the legislature write the first laws against sexual predators and Kansas' death penalty statute, and has argued numerous cases before the Kansas Supreme Court.
- Paul Morrison has the integrity, independence and lifelong commitment to keeping Kansas safe that we need in the Attorney General's office.
- Kansans will realize that a stronger, more effective Attorney General with a lifetime of experience in law enforcement will serve them better than the one we have today.
